Device foe



(No Model.)

B. F. PITTMAN.

' DEVICE FOR APPLYING WIRES T0 FENCE POSTS. No. 510,933. PatentedDeo. 19, 1893.

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UNiiTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD F. PITTMAN, OF CANTRIL, IOWA.

DEVICE FOR APPLYING WIRES TO FENCE-POSTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 510,933, dated December 19, 1893.

Application filed August 29, 1893. Serial in. 484,298. (No model.

To all 10. 00712, it may concern.-

l3e it known that I, EDWARD RPITTMAN, a citizen of theUnited States, residingat Oantril, 1n thecounty of Van Enron and State of Iowa, have nvented a new and useful Device for Applying ires to Fence-Posts, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements for applying wires to fence posts.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device capable of serving as a gage for Indicating the position of fence wires on a post to avoid the necessity of marking posts, and capable of holding a series of fence Wires in position for stapling.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device designed to be applied to a person and capable of readily conforming to the movements of such person and adapted to leave his hands free for stapling wires.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of .parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings:Figure 1 is an elevation of a device constructed in accordance with this invention, and shown applied to a pen son. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device detached. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sect onal view. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the wire holders.

Like numerals of reference designate like parts In all the figures of the drawings.

1 designatesa gage designed to be secured vertically at the side of a person, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, by means of a shoulder strap 2, a belt 3, and upper and lower leg straps 4 and 5, and designed to yield to the movements of the wearer and consisting of upper and lower sections 6 and 7, and an intermediate section 8 having its ends pivotally connected to the inner or adjacent ends of the other sections. In order to enable the device to be readily adjusted to the wearer, whether he be short or tall, the intermediate and lower sections of the gage are composed of bars adjustably secured together to permit these sections to be increased and diminished in length. The

adjacent ends of the bars 9 and 10 of the intermediate section are provided with lugs 11, arranged in pairs and embracing the bars 9 and 10, which are secured together by a bolt or screw 12, adapted to engage adjusting perforations of the bars 9 and 10. The bars 13 and 14 of the lowermost section 7 are simi larly connected by a bolt or screw 15 and are provided with lugs 16, constructed similarly to those above described, whereby the bars of the lower section are adjustably secured together by the bolt or screw l5 and are prevented from turning on such bolt or screw. The bar 14 of the lower section7 is provided with a curved stirrup-like extension 17 to receive the adjacent foot of the wearer at the instep of the same; and the lower bar 14: is secured to the foot by a strap 18, which is arched over the curved extension Wand which is composed of sections secured to the ends of the same, and which is provided with a buckle and ahorizon tally-disposed rearwardly-extending heel strap 19. This construction prevents the lower end of the gage slipping on the foot and becoming displaced.

The gage is provided atintervals with wire holders 2O adjustably secured to the gage by screws or bolts 21, and each provided at its outer side with a pair of oppositely-disposed integral hook-like projections 22, which are arranged at the top and bottom of the holder. The hook-like projections taper and terminate in points and are disposed diagonally or at an inclination, and are curved to form a wire opening or space between them and to provide an inclined entrance opening whereby, when the wire is in a horizontal position and the gage is perpendicular to the wire,-the latter will be retained in the holder until the entrance opening and the wire are brought in alignment. Each wire holder is provided with side flanges, which embrace the gage and prevent the wire holder turning on its screw or bolt.

The straps are provided with buckles or other suitable fastening devices; the strap 2 passes over the shoulders of the wearer; the leg straps 4 and 5 are arranged above and below the knee, the lower pivot 23 of the intermediate section occurring at the knee,.and-

the belt 3 is arranged around the waist slightly above the upper pivot 24, which connects the upper end of the intermediate section to the lower end of the upper section and which is work quickly on uneven ground where ittis often necessary to draw down on the: fences [O 'at their proper position. on hollow ground. I When the wiresarearranged within the holdarrangedat the hip joint. 1 The belt, which maybe constructed of any suitable material, is provided. with a fabricpouch or receptacle 25, adapted for holding staples within convenientreachoi theoperator. i

The device greatly facilitates: the building of wire fences,and enables the operator to wires with considerable force to bring them ers the operator may exert his entire weight 1n drawing wires down, andhe may convenientiy lift a series of fence wires witheonsid position for stapling thencxt lower wire.

The joints of the gage occur at the proper places, the kneeand the hip, to enable the device to yieldreadily to the movements of the operator. I I

It will be readily apparent that the device is simpleand comparativelyinexpensivein construction; that it is adapted to be readily adjusted to suit the operator, and that it is capable of enabling him to construct rapidly and efficiently wire fences.

Changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing anyof the advantages of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim is- .1. A device forapplying wires to fence posts, comprising a vertical gage designed to be at tached to the operator and provided with joints to occur at the knee and hip of the person, and a series of wire holders carried by the gage, substantially as described.

2. A device for applying wires to fence posts, comprising a vertical gage having upper and lower sections, and an intermediate section pivotally connected to the adjacent ends of the upper and lower sections, aserics of wire holders carried by the gage, a shoulder strap connected with the upper section of the gage, the upper and lower leg straps designed to be arranged above and below the knee of the operator and attached to the intermediate and lower sections of the gage, and .a belt having a pouch or receptacle, substantially as described.

3. Adevice for applying wires to fence posts,

eomprisingnpper andlower gage sections, an

interniediategage section pivotally connected to the adjacent ends'of' the other, gage sec.-

tions, the lowerand the intermediate gage 7 sections being composed of bars adjustably secured together to increase and diminish the length of the sections, wire holders earned by the gage sections, and means for-attaching the sections to a person, substantially as described. I

at. A device for applying wires to fence posts comprising the upper, the lower, andthe in-, termediate gage sections pivotally connected, the intermediate and the, lower gage sections being composed of. bars having adj usting perforations and provided at their adjacent ends with lugs arranged in pairs and receiving the adjacent bars, bolts or screws arranged in. perforations, of the bars and adjnstably connecting the same, wireholderscarried by said sections, and ineansfor attaching the sec tions to a person, substantially as described.

. 5. 'Adeviceforapplyingwirestot'enceposts:

comprising a vertical gage having jointsand designedtto be secured to a person, and wire holders carried by the gage and each provided a with upper andlower oppositely-disposed projections arranged at an inclination and forming a wire openingand providing an inclined entrance, substantially as described.

6. A device for applying wires to fence posts comprising a'jointed gage provided with means for attaching it to a person, and a see 'ries of adj nstablewire holders carried by the gage, each: provided with oppositel ndisposed inclined curved hook-like projections and having parallel side flanges .embracingrthe gage, substantially as described.

7. 'A device for applyingwires to fence posts comprising a vertical gage having upper, lower, and intermediate sections pivotally connected, the intermediate and lower sections being provided with adjustable bars, and the lower section having a curved stirruplike extension to receive the adjacent foot of the operator, the straps 18 and 19 connected to the extenson, a series of wire holders carried by the gage, the shoulder strap, the upper and lower leg straps, and a belt, substant-ially as described. p

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflfixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD F. PITTMAN.

\Vitnesses:

SIMEoN TETER, HENRY T. 00X. 

